David Petrie

Sir David Petrie
Born 9 September 1879
Inveravon, Banffshire
Died 7 August 1961(1961-08-07) (aged 81)
Sidmouth, Devon
Nationality British
Alma mater Aberdeen University
Occupation Intelligence officer, Police officer
Spying career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service MI5
Rank Director General of MI5

Sir David Petrie KCMG CIE CVO CBE KPM (9 September 1879 – 7 August 1961) was Director General (DG) of MI5, the United Kingdom's internal security service, from 1941 to 1946. He was described as "a rugged and kindly Scot, with ... immense physical and moral strength".[1]

Biography

Petrie worked in the Indian Imperial Police between 1900 and 1936. His highest level in British India was to chair the Union Public Service Commission. In April 1941, he was appointed Director General of MI5. His task was to reorganise the service so that it could improve its efficiency. In the spring of 1946, Petrie retired.[2]

References

Notes

  1. The Times, Obituary, 8 August 1961
  2. "Sir David Petrie (1879–1961)". MI5. Retrieved 25 March 2013.

Sources

  • R. Popplewell, Intelligence and imperial defence: British intelligence and the defence of the Indian empire, 1904–1924, 1995, ISBN 0-7146-4580-X
  • F. H. Hinsley and C. A. G. Simkins, British intelligence in the Second World War, 4: Security and counter-intelligence, 1990
  • D. Petrie, Communism in India, 1924–27, 1972
  • T. Bower, The perfect English spy: Sir Dick White and the secret war, 1935–90, 1995
Government offices
Preceded by
Jasper Harker
Director General of MI5
1941–1946
Succeeded by
Sir Percy Sillitoe
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